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poutine

noun
pou·​tine | \ pü-ˈtēn How to pronounce poutine (audio) \

Definition of poutine

chiefly Canada
: a dish of French fries covered with brown gravy and cheese curds
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Did You Know?

Although the earliest evidence of the word poutine in an English publication is from 1982, historical accounts of the dish itself date to several decades earlier when someone had the brilliant idea to add rural Quebec's much-loved fresh cheese curds to (also much-loved) French fries. Whether the gravy came a few years later or was present ab ovo is disputed. Also unclear is the origin of the word by which the dish is known. Some assert that poutine is related to the English word pudding, but a more popular etymology is that it's from a Quebecois slang word meaning "mess." The dish has in recent years been making inroads on American menus.

Examples of poutine in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

 There are many ways to enjoy your fries: smother them in cheese, top them with chili or turn them into poutine. — Christina Kline, CNN, "On National French Fry Day, your questions about fries, answered," 13 July 2019 The evidence is on the menu: Smack Shack’s famous lobster roll served with Cajun fries, lobster Cobb salad, lobster bisque, lobster poutine, lobster boil, lobster lucy burger and lobster mac and cheese. — Nancy Ngo, Twin Cities, "Nothing fishy about our love of seafood: Here are 5 favorite Twin Cities’ spots to get it," 25 July 2019 Nationals Park will sell poutine as well as Montreal smoked beef brisket sandwiches. — Michael Shapiro, SI.com, "Nationals to Wear Powder Blue Expos Jerseys in July 6 Game vs. Royals," 26 June 2019 Poutine – Idaho potatoes fried in duck fat and sprinkled with kosher sea salt smothered in a secret poutine sauce. — Chris Sims, Indianapolis Star, "Here's everything you need to know about the 2019 Indiana State Fair," 15 July 2019 For those food fanatics who like to get experimental, challenge your taste buds with some inventive french fry reimaginings, like french fry poutine. — Christina Kline, CNN, "On National French Fry Day, your questions about fries, answered," 13 July 2019 Our sources tell us that Fred VanVleet has a top-secret poutine recipe that’ll blow away plain old American french fries. — Cicero Estrella, The Mercury News, "Will President Trump invite hostile foreign power Toronto Raptors to the White House?," 14 June 2019 At lunch, that means dishes such as ramen and salads; a noodle dish with pesto made from perilla, the Asian herb; Korean-fried chicken wings; and kimchi poutine. — Carol Deptolla, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Char'd, with a modern Korean menu, plans to open Thursday in the Third Ward," 16 May 2018 The signature poultry is available in the form of tenders, nachos, tacos, poutine and several sandwiches, including a po’ boy, and chicken and cheddar on a brioche bun. — Larry Olmsted, USA TODAY, "The Nashville Hot Chicken spot for everyone," 7 June 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'poutine.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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First Known Use of poutine

1982, in the meaning defined above

History and Etymology for poutine

Canadian French

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